Signing complimentary players who are (about) 30 years old to long term contracts (with NT protection) is what got Calgary where they are today.

Those types of contracts need to go to complimentary players who are 25 years old who still have some upside.

The failure of the Canucks to not have those types of players available, forcing them to sign Higgins to this type of contract, is what will eventually lead them into Calgary land.

There is nothing wrong with Higgins per se. But he's as good as he's going to get, and will play worse at the end of his contract than he does now. He offers zero upside. And the Canucks will get less value from this contract as the years go by.